USOC `MISMANAGED EXPECTATIONS' FOR TURIN GAMES U.S. MEDAL HAUL CALLED `MEDIOCRE'.

Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer

TURIN, Italy - Engaging in a rare bit of self-flagellation, U.S. Olympic Committee officials conceded to ``mismanaged expectations'' for some of its athletes at the Turin Olympics, and pledged the USOC will do a better job of stressing good behavior to its athletes ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games.

The U.S. won 25 medals here, second only to Germany in the standings.

Turin witnessed the largest U.S. medal haul in Winter Olympics history, aside from Salt Lake 2002, when the Yanks picked up 34 medals on home soil.

However, poor U.S. results from high-profile athletes such as skiers Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves, the men's hockey team, figure skater Johnny Weir and speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez seemed to create the perceptions of a poor Olympics performance by the U.S. team.

Early Saturday, 57 percent of 175,000 respondents to an espn.com survey rated the U.S. performance here ``mediocre,'' and another 17 percent chose ``embarrassing.'' Only 23 percent labeled it ``impressive'' and a mere 3 percent rated it ``excellent.''

``It's probably a little bit of our fault that this team has been viewed as a little less than (successful) because of our high expectations coming in,'' said Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive officer.

Scherr helped create the problem; last year he said 30 medals was the U.S. goal at Turin. That number was perhaps unrealistic, given that a nation hosting an Olympics typically suffers a significant medals dropoff four years later.

Scherr said he was ``very pleased'' with the U.S. team's performance.

``Our previous high on foreign soil was 13 medals,'' Scherr said, referring to the modest hauls at Nagano (1998) and Lillehammer (1994). ``We're not only happy with the medals we won, but we also had the most top-eight finishes of any nation in these games, more than 60 top-eight finishes. We were very close to even more medals.

``It will be our job to support these athletes for Vancouver (2010) and get them onto the podium.''

U.S. medals were clustered in two sports, speedskating (10, all bymen) and snowboarding (seven medals, four in halfpipe).

Americans were shut out in several medal-rich disciplines, including biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, luge and skeleton, and won only two of a potential 30 Alpine skiing medals.

Scherr also addressed the topic of athlete behavior, from Miller's pre- Olympics admission to skiing while drunk and reported late-night appearances in clubs here, to Weir's gratuitous drug references and the expulsion Friday of freestyle skier Jeret ``Speedy'' Peterson from the Olympic Village.

Peterson reportedly was sent home Saturday after police were called to break up a Friday morning altercation between Peterson and an acquaintance, apparently after an all-night drinking binge.

``This team has taken a little bit of a hit in terms of its comportment in Italy because of some incidents involving a few athletes,'' Scherr said. ``But we're happy with the behavior of this team. There are 211 athletes here, and we believe that the behavior of all but a few has been admirable.

``As to those exceptions, our job is certainly to make sure that doesn't happen in the future, and we'll be making some significant adjustments going into Beijing and Vancouver.''

He said the USOC made clear its expectations from its athletes. ``Principally, that they prepare and compete to the best of their ability and, second, that their behavior brings honor to the UnitedStates and the rest of their team.''

Scherr said more stress will be placed on the behavior the USOC expects. ``We will do a better job of communicating accountability, and what will happen if those expectations aren't met. Make sure they know this is the USA team, and not a single sport, and that they are accountable to the USOC for their actions.''

Women's hockey veteran Angela Ruggiero of Simi Valley said expectations of U.S. athletes aren't unrealistic.

``I think every single Olympian is a role model, and everyone should take that to heart, and most athletes do,'' she said. ``You know little boys and girls are watching and will try to emulate you, and we try our best to be good athletes and positive role models.''

Said skater Sasha Cohen of Corona del Mar: ``As Olympic athletes, and in the spotlight, it's our responsibility to be good role models and to carry ourselves in a way to make our country proud, and give someone people can look up to.''

Paul Oberjuerge, [phone]

paul.oberjuerge(at)sbsun.com